08/04/2023
Dear Friends,
We had a heartfelt meeting with Craig yesterday and feel reassured that he will lead us with Godly wisdom as we move forward with our convention plans this year.
Craig shared with us some information from the recent Overseers Meeting. He stated that each regional Overseer has freedom and responsibility to develop their region’s policies (including how to deal with SA and CSA) and that there is no intention to establish a unified policy. We’re comforted by the knowledge that Craig was given the authority to work with all of us to put policies in place that meet the needs of the people in our region, and is actively working on that.
We believe Craig understands the gravity of this responsibility and feel a bond of unity to work with him on this. During our meeting, while discussing our distress about wrong actions of the past, Craig said, “SA and CSA will stop with me.” He is adamant that our region has victim-survivor focused policies to create long-term solutions that protect the Friends and support victim-survivors.
We realize that we deeply need our convention this year. We intend to move forward with our convention; to do that, we must be confident that we can do our part in keeping all of you safe. We will be finalizing a safety plan in the next few weeks to create a safer environment and identify what is needed to implement it.
In addition to the safety plan, we are working with victim-survivors and others to make changes that will create a more physically and spiritually safe environment for all. Convention may look similar with camper and overnight stays, etc., but this does not mean it will be ‘business as usual.’ We stand firm in our decision that no alleged abusers or those who have been responsible for covering up abuse will be allowed to attend our convention. The past few months have changed all of us in different ways: we may each be at a different place in our journey, but we have grown from where we were four months ago.
We, and Craig, are concerned that we may be unable to complete safety measures and prepare convention grounds in time for our convention. We are aware we need help, even more than in previous years. If you have mandatory reporting training or education on child safety and would like to volunteer to help with convention safety, please reach out. We gladly welcome, and appreciate your help in both regards.
Sincerely,
Lecil and Gaby T
Discover more from WINGS for Truth
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
WINGS for Truth 
My wife and I attend a fair amount of events (symphony concerts, car shows, motor sports like NASCAR and Indy Car and F1, college football and basketball games, civic parades, memorial services, farmers markets, etc.). Not once did I hear about any of these events needing or having a safety plan for CSA/SA perps, peds, and pervs. This is something that normal upright people do not participate in. Just wondering why a so-called “God fearing” group needs a CSA/SA “safety plan” to keep a religious convention safe. My wife said that maybe workers need to preach more about basic morality instead of one’s “outward appearance”.
Max, I agree totally with your wife. Workers need to talk about what basic morality looks like, what the mind and spirit of Christ in humans, looks like, in everyday life. Loving our neighbors means that we never use/abuse other people for our own ends!
All overnight camps sure better have a safety plan in place. All churches do too, and schools… we’re definitely behind the curve. My wife just applied for a position at a religious preschool and there are very well written child safety policies she had to read through, background check, etc. Wherever humans are, and especially institutions of trust need a safety policy. Public events? You bet there are security plans in place you probably don’t even know about. Police are there monitoring for all sorts of risks, there is video security as well.
Max, my incredible 16 year old daughter was refused to be BAPTIZED by a head worker (because she wore blue jeans). And, that same head worker was found guilty, by the law, for covering up for a child sex molester. The cover up happened more than once, as did the denial of baptisms. This group’s priorities are a little off center for a religious organization. And, from the looks of all this, the leadership has not even determined what the “center” is that they should focus on. They punted that football to the various regions to deal with. This appears to me to be directly on advise from legal counsel to keep the child sex scandal from being an organization wide class action law suit against the parent organization, “Christian Conventions.” Instead of attending a convention, you and your bride would be much better off sticking with the Formula One events. It’s a safer crowd. Their interest is in fast cars, not fraudulent “workers”. ….Max, do you find it interesting that this group is officially named, CHRISTIAN CONVENTIONS? How ironic is it that they need an anti-pervert plan for THE Christian Convention? I would be scared to go just because it’s all so backwards. You can’t make this stuff up, it’s so crazy! You almost think a fireball from the sky just might strike the place.
Are you at all aware of what is going on in the world regarding this issue…It is among the world Epstein, #metoo, Sounds of Silence are all about this terrible issue and nothing to do with Truth.
The Catholic Church, The Jehovah Witnesses, Boy’s clubs, Schools etc, ALL are guilty……
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses%27_handling_of_child_sex_abuse
In 2015, it was disclosed that the Australia Branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses had records of 1,006 alleged perpetrators of child sexual abuse, relating to more than 1,800 victims since 1950, none of which were reported to police by the group
Please read that again in Australia 1006 NONE reported
So please do not refer to upright people…The events you referred to are not addressing this issue either.
This is what is needed, no abusers and no persons who have covered abuse.
A big step in the right direction.
Overseers will now have to look at their lists and make sure there will be no abusers / coverup.
This should be one criteria for all conventions.
It would create a problem tho, since most if not all overseers have covered.
Nevertheless it should be a standard procedure.
There will probably be a lot less workers attending conv but that’s ok
“Overseers will now have to look at their lists and make sure there will be no abusers / coverup”. This sounds a lot like Santa’s long naughty and nice list! I have a suggestion; have the naughty folk go to a convention next day and that way if a new perv is uncovered, just send them next door. I bet the perv convention would be about the same size as the straights, and probably some real good preaching as well. I’d be there for the stew!
Max: You and your wife are correct. They have a problem “normal upright people” DO NOT have. But when you consider they are not able to even read and understand our Holy Bible as written: BUT follow most all other religious organizations who admitt their’s is “Man – formed”: and proudly record and display their religions “Doctrines” (with their own man-made spin).
Yes, this is brutal: when one considers — most members of the “New Testament Fellowship” are convinced That this ministry ALONE is “The Way”!
Why do they believe this?
Because they Trust in 3 generations or trust ONLY what they have heard.
They have NOT actually read what the very Spirit of Christ(1 Peter 1:1) has recorded for their Learning. ((Matthew thru Acts 12)
Lyle explains: Ephesians 6:15 Your feet Shod with the preparation of the Gospel of “Peace”. BUT he does NOT know what that “Gospel” is!
WHY? He preaches Jesus, in his flesh; on this earth: to bring Nation of Israel
back to God. They would NOT. That Nation demanded Jesus “Death”. AND the 2×2’s demand you follow Jesus in the flesh! In His earthly ministry!
You must read and study and retain: then learn and understand “WHAT Jesus in His fleshly ministry Preached. Write Down in your own words what Jesus preached to that Nation of Israel as he tried to bring them back to himself.
They would NOT!
That very chosen Nation of God to whom God had given instructions:
Exodus 19:5,6; could Not and would Not Do: and killed their own Messiah.
Matthew 12:31-32 explains How Jesus forewarned that VERY Government:
Acts 6: thru 7: EXPLAINS how that very Government did the unforgivable Sin. You read and understand that this is the very reason God turned from that very Nation for a season.
God is withholding for a ‘season’ their Gospel(Good News of their Saviour, King and Judge) “until” Romans 11:25, :26, :27! Yes, God will fulfill all of HIS covenants and promises to His chosen Nation of Israel. (No, that is not You!)
Ephesians 3:1-:9 is the Dispensation of the Grace of God THAT is NOW.
Satan has deluded (2 Corinthians 11:13- :15. as an Angel of “light”) this world and the 2×2’s eagerly, with face set as Stone, follow after.
((Yes, they actually deride and laugh at Ephesians 3:1-9, and Ephesians 2:4, and Eph.1:12 – :13 and Romans 3:21-:28.
AND ignore Romans 3:1-:20.
Our plea to you, as you search for answers where there are no answers,
and search your heart for relief from doubt where their is no relief: that you read God’s Word as written: IF you cannot grasp on your own as you pray to God to guide with understanding; DO NOT give-up — You have been blind for a LONG Time — Keep your heart, mind and soul aware and learning God’s word as is written.
You will never be able to understand the reason for such “abuse” happening under the Banner of God’s True Way; UNTIL you are able to understand ALL of God’s Word: Peter explains to those of His converts scattered from Jerusalem:
THAT 2 Peter 3:9-:14. God is NOT Slack concerning His Promises to Israel
2 Peter 3:15 ‘God is Long Suffering at this time’
:15 AND Peter “POINTS” to Paul and the WISDOM the ‘risen Christ’ gave to Paul’ Peter did NOT understand. It was not the Gospel Jesus gave to Peter!
BUT he did KNOW::: 2 Peter 3:16 has been twisted and wrested by the unlearned and unstable:::
as the Do ALSO other scriptures to their own destruction.!
These verses STRUCK a fear in our hearts as “we realized” we did NOT know anything of the “wisdom given to Paul; and realized these are Peter’s WORDS!
Even tho, Acts 15 explain why and HOW there WAS Great “dissension” and “disputation” when the 12 apostles (Acts 2:47 and etc.) Jewish converts demanded Paul’s Christian believers in the Grace of God – DO THE LAW of Moses. Acts 15:1, :5. Paul’s assemble in Antioch = Acts 14:26
Acts 15:7 Yes, again — “much disputing”! Galatians 2:5-:6 Paul explains WHY he would “NOT Give IN”—NO, NOT for an Hour::THAT the “Truth of the gospel” MIGHT continue with you = Galatians according to Paul’s Gospel of Grace
NOOOO, it was NOT a Worker’s Meeting It was a “You better Back-Off” – NOW!
Galatians 2:9 AND those James, Peter and John(who seemed to be pillars)
did just-that = BACKED-OFF! AND made an agreement THEY would ONLY
GO TO the “circumcision” = Jews. YES, the 12 did not do Matthew 28:19!
And now we understand HOW it is possible for this reign of Terror to happened for ‘decades’ and NOW is ignored an/or protected. 2 Cor. 11:13-:15 they come as “angels” of “light” :14 and no marvel; for satan himself is transformed INTO an angel of Light.
Our hearts are very sad because of our living and ignoring all of the signs of “abuse” and saying – “God’s Way is perfect: but we are all human”.
Yes, we are guilty of being aware at a certain level AND NOT DEMANDING
Answers! WHY??? DID WE NOT???
Finally!,
Thank you, thank you, for your courage to deny all those who have been know to victimize and/ or cover for those that have done so…..
We, as God’s people do not require their attendance or anything from them ongoing in the future.
I’m from the west coast, and have been in “the way” all my life, and have loved it. As the saying goes, “only the very elect will be save ” we know now that some of the those that preached whose words were in fact calling their own salvation in question.
There have been a number of people over my 60 plus years lifetime that were asked not to take part because of choices not as grievous as these…..
So , now it’s these diabolical person’s turn to be outside the camp! Thanks to covid we know that people can and have indeed had fellowship over the phone. May all these find each others company and worship together.
And, yes I’m angry!
There are multiple victim’s in my family. I have every right to be angry. This is not MY sin!
Once these fiends have been placed outside the camp we can deal with the facts.
My forgiveness isn’t the question here….these are facts, we’re just stating facts.
Stats show that only 2% of perps get help and change, if they are removed from fellowship they will see that they need too change before the evil day comes…..as some of the old perps have said ” I have dementia I have no memory”. Be in time comes to mind, if no action happens then all the blood is on their hands. I wouldn’t want that on my conscience.
I’m thankful for Craig’s stance on CSA and SA.
Craig said above that “SA and CSA will stop with me.” In a letter posted on Wings on 6/11/2023, Craig said that Ira Hobbs could no longer attend meetings with kids present. In a letter dated May 2008, Ray Hoffman said Hobbs could no longer be a worker due to his CSA issues. Unlike many overseers, Craig is very smart and well schooled. He knew about Hobbs at least since 2008 and probably for many years prior. His statement now rings very hollow.
The T’s wrote above that “We stand firm in our decision that no alleged abusers or those who have been responsible for covering up abuse will be allowed to attend our convention”. ADVOCATES FOR TRUTH in a letter posted on Wings on 6/4/2023 stated “Each of you (i.e. overseers) has participated in coverups, minimized crimes, or committed criminal acts yourself”. Using the T’s criteria, no overseers should be allowed at their convention, including Craig. Neither should scores of staff workers, including the Montana dozen (see account of their sad story posted on Wings on 7/9/2023).
Ok. So who has their contact info? Who who has a list of workers that are planning to attend Clever, MO?
“over the phone” — that is not fellowship